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First of all, I suppose I need a another introduction. I've written a pair of rather unimpressive articles on two different topics here in the past, but odds are you didn't read those. I'm Thatic, and I have a love for magic that burns in both my heart and my pocketbook (Or does it burn up my pocketbook...?). Anyways, I have a problem though, as I can never really stay focused on one deck or even format for a long time, thus I stopped writing for the site as I felt I had no cohesive theme. Seven months and the best girlfriend ever later, and she suggested I just make my article on whatever I'm doing. Amazing how women wield that logic thing like a sword. Anyways, a quick bit about me, I'm a Johnny/Timmy, no questions asked. I like white, I hate Jund, and I'm poor as dirt. I'm a English composition (Not like my grammar shows it xD) and Philosophy Major so I can be a bit wordy, and my articles will probably be a bit longer then you're used to as I really like to explain each detail in depth, as at heart I really am a deck builder, not a player. Also note, that I draw inspiration from strange sources (The deck in this article was breaking a card my girlfriend said "looked cool") so expect some weird stuff. But trust me, I like to win, so the decks I present won't be total dogs in their formats either.

And they'll be cheap. So without further ado:

 

I'm sure most everyone on this site has heard of Classic Tribal wars. ShardFenix writes an excellent article on his PRE every week. Well, this is a PRE I try to attend as frequently as possible, and in case anyone was wondering, I was the jerk who brought the Legacy Goblins and ripped the tourney to shreds (Until I ran into moat ;_;). In my defense, I was too cheap to buy lackeys. Anyways, last week I played a fairly stock pauper combo elves deck with the only revision being adding in Sylvan Messengers, who add some nice card advantage and are a nice target for your various ridiculous pump effects. Well, after getting destroyed by monoblack control round one, I proceeded to win two pretty unfun and uneventful matches like nobodies business. Now don't get me wrong, I like to win, but somehow it lacked a certain...panache if you will. Just attacking with a horde of little green dudes just didn't really do it for me. Enter aforementioned card that "looked cool". Ladies and gentlemen, he's big, he's green, and he likes to take things that aren't his, let me introduce you all to a nice jank rare:

(img=Gilt-Leaf Archdruid)

Yeah, he's kinda cool, but for an overall under-supported tribe. Or so I thought until I actually started poking around.Here's every card I play with an at least slightly in-depth analysis:

Gilt-Leaf Archdruid- This one needs no explaining. He's simply what makes the deck tick. However, I want to point your attention to the fact that the second ability, while undeniably awesome, is not the reason you play this car. His first ability, combined with the endless mana dorks and cheap mana makers a druid deck would contain borders on unfair, and makes the second ability not only a reasonable possibility, but fairly simple once he lands. This deck is very easily capable of landing this guy on turn three, and if you survive to untap with him, it's very difficult to lose. Keep him safe, and he'll win games for you, but without him it's all but impossible. He's also not an insufferable beatstick if you get forced into that route for some reason (I'm sure someone's played Rule of Law in Tribal Wars at SOME point.

Kamahl, Fist of Krosa- While Gilt-Leaf Archdruid is what makes the deck able to combo off, this guy is how the deck actually is supposed to win the game, since a horde of 1/1's, 0/2's, and 3/3's can't really expect to do that in a reasonable time frame. He gives you an outlet for all that land you stole, and a fairly scary outlet at that. The deck doesn't need him to win, though, so if the 75 cents he runs is too much for you, there;s really no need to play him.

Heritage Druid- Anyone who's played a combo elf deck in any format knows exactly how lethal this card is. In this case, it serves as a way to turn all your summoning sick druids into mana the turn they come into play, and thus facilitate your comboing off. I can't really think of a time I've gone off without her, so make sure you can get them out, or the deck will be slowed considerably by them not being there.

Mana dorks- I really shouldn't have to explain this, but bear in mind that they're superb tutor targets if you have a heritage druid and one or more archdruid in play, as they allow you to dig deeper with relatively little cost. That's the only real way their functionality differs from in other decks.

Devoted Druid- A gigantic mana accelerant, and a fairly solid role player in this deck. He synergizes well with devoted druid, and fills the gap that the noticeable lack of Nettle Sentinel makes in this deck. He's really just there to ramp mana, and draw you cards off the archdruid, but once you're going off, you don't really want to see these as they usually mean a net mana loss unless you get lucky with your numbers and untap them profitably with the Heritage Druid in play. Remember you can do that, because it's won me a very large number of games I otherwise would of fizzled in. Don't work her to death though, that doesn't help anyone.

Nullmage Advocate- I'll be honest, there's only one reason this is in the deck. Moat. I'm more scared of that card then the boogieman is of Chuck Norris. And a certain player in our metagame seems to like to run them in every deck imaginable. not going to name any names here :p. The point is, this is probably the single most expendable slot in the deck. To be honest, the only reason this isn't Nantuko Vigilante is because I like my tribal decks to be composed entirely of that tribe. Feel free to cut him.

Thelonite Druid- In short, he's the three mana Kamahl, not the six mana one. The fact that he's a human is very irritating, and to be honest, I've never activated his ability ever. That probably has more to do with everyone scooping when you take all their lands, though. Regardless, I can't really suggest or not suggest him.  If you're opponent actually makes you kill them, then he's good, otherwise you might just want a Boreal Druid or something.

Harmonize- To be perfectly honest, I think this card is a bit slow for this deck. It really sucks to draw when you're going off, but turns out, it's pretty necessary to get you to that point, so they earn their keep. If you can't afford them, I wouldn't worry about it too much, I'll offer some alternatives later in the article if you need them.

Elvish Harbinger- Speaking of very slow cards, we have the ubiquitous Harbinger, a cycle of cards I've actually never seen played in Tribal wars ever. Too bad. This one actually works pretty well with your curve, as it does allow you to more consistently curve out to a turn three archdruid, turn 4-5 win. It's really not that bad, it's just not that good in all honesty. However, it is a druid, so it fits the tribe, it is an elf so it works with Heritage Druid, and it gets you the necessary Archdruid. I would heavily suggest you not cut these.

Vitalize- I included it on lark, and holy god am I glad for it. This is the number one card you want to draw while going off, as it just allows you to keep going that much longer. There's really not much I can say about it as it's use should be fairly obvious. However, note it does have a great amount of synergy with Kamahl, as you can animate your lands and then vitalize to untap them and produce even more mana, hopefully to set yourself up for a gigantic overrun. Do not cut these unless you like losing, or prefer to play Awakening, which I have yet to test out, but doubt would be more effective.

Weird Harvest- This was the card I was most curious to try out, as it seemed very good and very bad all at the same time. However, unlike most symmetrical tutoring effects, it's rather good, as since it is restricted to creatures, they can rarely tutor for an answer to whatever threat you present them, and a casting of Weird Harvest should get you a win in 1-3 turns as longs as you know what you're doing. Oh, and always tutor a Heritage Druid. Just do it, you'll thank me later.

Well, I can't find the coding for the nice looking Deck list thing, so...Here it is in plain text. Sorry about that, but hopefully someone could explain it to me again in the comments.

4 Arbor Elf                           4 Llanowar Elves

4 Fyndhorn Elves                 4 Heritage Druid

4 Devoted Druid                    4 Elvish Harbinger

2 Nullmage Advocate            2 Thelonite Druid

4 Harmonize                        4 Gilt-Leaf Archdruid

1 Kamahl, Fist of Krosa        2 Weird Harvest

4 Vitalize                            17 Forest

 

Well that's the list.

I'll close each article was a custom card I've made, just in case you're interested and because I like my vanity. So today, We have a little favorite of mine (Art credited to Cakeair on Deviantart.com)

Like to hear any comments you might have on it too.

 

Well, I'll be back next week with another deck and a small tourney report on how the Druids hold up in the Apocalypse.

As a great card reviewer once said, Stay classy planet Earth ;).

-Thatic

PS: Any ideas on the article name would be appreciated. Girlfriend thought of that one too.